First Attempts at Observation 



it not possible that on distant planets, 

 goverened by another sun, green, blue, yel- 

 low or red, life might be exempt from the 

 ignominy of the stomach, that lamentable 

 source of atrocities, and maintain its activ- 

 ities merely with the aid of the radiations 

 flooding that corner of the universe? Shall 

 we ever know? I sincerely hope so, our 

 earth being but a stage towards a better 

 world, in which true happiness might well 

 lie in fathoming more and more deeply the 

 unfathomable secret of things. 



Let us leave these nebulous heights and 

 return to the workaday question of the Mino- 

 taur's affairs. The burrow is ready; it is 

 time to establish the family. I am apprised 

 of this by seeing the father for the first time 

 venture abroad in the daylight. He is very 

 busy exploring the expanse of the dish. 

 What is he looking for? He seems to be 

 seeking provisions for the coming brood. 

 This is the moment to interfere. 



To facilitate observation, I make a clean 

 sweep. I clear the site of its mound, under 

 which lie buried the victuals which I deemed 

 necessary at the outset, but which have re- 

 mained untouched. These old pellets, soiled 

 with earth, are discarded and replaced by 



